Pathways to Publication: Mystery authors today not only have to write a good book, they must help it get into the hands of readers. Today's authors have multiple choices to bring their book to life. From getting an agent and a large press offer to deciding to go with a small press or to self-publish, hear how authors decided upon their unique publication path.

Sisters in Crime is a robust organization of mystery and thriller authors whose speakers span New York Times bestselling authors to emerging greats. Each engages and entertains while sharing their experiences in the fast-changing world of publishing.

Today’s panel includes:

Susan Oleksiw
Susan has been writing since she was a student in the 1960s, but her first publication in the mystery field came in 1988, with the publication of A READER'S GUIDE TO THE CLASSIC BRITISH MYSTERY. She is the author of three series. The Pioneer Valley series follows Felicity O'Brien, who has just inherited her parents' farm in rural Massachusetts. In the first book, BELOW THE TREE LINE (2018), Felicity discovers a woman's body in her woods, and copes with a stranger digging secretly on her land. The Mellingham series features Chief of Police Joe Silva, who appears in five books. Indian American photographer Anita Ray investigates murder at a resort in South India. Susan was a co-founder of Level Best Books, which publishes an annual anthology of crime fiction, and a co-founder of The Larcom Press and The Larcom Review.

Amy Ray
Amy is a writer of suspense novels for adults, children's middle-grade adventure novels, and picture books. Her mystery/thriller DANGEROUS DENIAL was published in 2014 by Barking Rain Press. She has short stories featured in the anthologies LOVE FREE OR DIE (2015), MURDER INK (2016), and MURDER INK VOLUME II (2017). Her ebook LIFE SUPPORT: AN ANTIQUES ALLEY SHORT MYSTERY was a finalist for a 2016 IPNE Book Award.

Robin Hazard Ray
Robin is the author of The Strangers' Tomb (2015), a historical mystery set in Cambridge’s historic Mount Auburn Cemetery during the turmoil of the pre-Civil War years. A freelance writer and editor, Robin also serves as a volunteer docent for the Friends of Mount Auburn Cemetery, where she gives tours on themes ranging from glacial geology to gay Bostonians. Her story, “The Last of Their Line,” won honorable mention in the 2016 Al Blanchard Award contest. She is currently writing the second book in the Murder in the Cemetery series. She lives in Somerville, MA.